Machine for twisting yarn



Nov. 17, 1959 E. E. FEATHER MACHINE FOR TWISTING YARN Filed June 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet l 4 3 'F/G.v/.

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Nov. 17, 1959 Filed June 17, 1957 E. E. FEATHER I MACHINE FOR TwIs'rING YARN 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 [DMUN ERIC FEATM'H BMf A ttorneys Nov. 17, 1959 E. E. FEATHER MACHINE FOR TwIsTING YARN 8 sheets-sheet s Filed June '17, 1957 ,m .mm m w 1.1L www@ FL D. m.

Nov. 17, 1959 E. E. FEATHER 2,912,815

u MACHINE FOR TwIsTING YARN f Filed June 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet. 4

i r'wentor n EDM/JM) ERI@ FEATHER a @ZZ/ir Nov. 17, 1959l E. E. FEATHER MACHINE FOR TwIsTING YARN 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 17, 1957 Nov. 17,1959 E. E. FEATHER 2,912,815

' MACHINE FOR TWISTING YARN Filed June 1'7, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 l 54, Y S4 A F/GQ. Q45' A F/G/O. Q35

Inventor A ttorney` Nov. 17, 1959 E. E. FEATHER 2,912,815

MACHINE FOR TWISTING YARN Filed June 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 F/.GJ/

A I Inventor [DMU/VD [R/C FEATHER Attome 31.5

Nov. 17, 1959 E. E. FEATHER 2,912,815

MACHINE Foa TwIsTING YARN Filed June 17, 1957 a sheets-sheet a venlar A ttdrneyS United States Patent C l' MACHINE FOR TWISTING YARN Edmund EricFeather, Keighley, England, assgnor to Prince-Smith & Stells Limited, Keighley, England Application June 17, 1957, Serial No. 666,179 Claims priority, application Great Britain April 18,` 1956 12 Claims. (Cl. 57-66) This application for patent isa continuation-in-part ofv my previous application Serial No, 576,043, liled on April 4, 1956, now abandoned.

This invention relates to methods of and machines for spinning, twisting or doubling, all hereinafter referred to generically as twisting, textile yarn in which yarn is fed from a yarn-feeding or guiding means through a device that carries the yarn so fed in an orbitabout a package support which is moved axially away from the yarn feeding or guiding means. p

The industrial demand for increased capacity of packages produced by twisting sets up many problems which detract from the flexibility of the twisting machine, or impairtherate of v,output or thev quality of the twisted yarn. One'of themore usual methods of increasing the capacity'of the package is to extend the length of the package, but the amount by which this length can be in-' creased has been hitherto limited by its effect upon the balloon of yarn, passing from the yarn-feeding or guiding means to the device that carries the yarn in an orbit about the package support.

v Various devices have been suggested from time to time to minimise variation of the balloon, such as lowering of the package supporting rails and using a lixed ring` plate in a ring spinning machine, or even combined movement'o'f the package-supporting rails and the ring plates. In all cases, however, the initial axial length of the balloon is affected by the overall length of the package support which must be' set in such a position as to clear the balloon at the commencement of building.

Accepting this, various attempts have been Vmade to the balloon, which can thus be set at a suitable lengthy to give ideal spinning conditions.

According tothe present invention, a method of twisting yarn comprises feeding the yarn to a rotating package support from a yarn-feeding or guiding means through a device that carries the yam so fed in an orbit about the package support, moving the'package support axially away from the yarn-feeding or guiding means, and, during said movement, extending the package support axially in the direction opposite to that of the movement of the package support relative to the yarn feeding or guiding means, so that a package is bultup on the package support and on ythe extension thereof. The invention also includes a textile twisting machineunit of the kind in which yarn delivered by yarn-feeding means is carried in an orbit'around a rotating package support while the latter is being retracted axially away from the yarn feeding meansl which unit comprises -thecombination of an 2,912,85 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 extensible package support and means operative during its retraction to extend the package support in the direction opposite to that of its retraction.

A textile twisting machine unit according to the invention may comprise means for feeding textile yarn to a rotating package support through a device that carries the yarn so fed in an orbit about the package support, in which machine the package support is extensible, is moved axially away from the yarn-feeding means and during said movement isextended in a direction opposite to that of the movement. rst retracted as a whole axially away from the yarn feeding means, and is then simultaneously extended towards and further retracted axially away from the yarn on the spindle rail, an axially movable plunger coaxial ksupp0rt, means for rotating the spindle-and with it the I with and entering the bore of the hollow spindle, an extensible package support comprising nested coaxial inner and outer members mounted withthe outer member abutting the spindle and the inner member engaged by the plunger,` means for retracting the spindle rail andV spindle relatively to the plunger awayl from the yarnfeeding means through a predetermined distance and means for further retracting the spindle rail together with theplunger through a further predetermined distance. VThe inner member of the package support may be hollow and the plunger may'have a shoulder against which the end of the inner member abuts and a spigot The plunger-may be embraced by the inner member. mounted upon a rail that is movable towardsand away from Vthe yarn-feeding means, may be biassed in the direction of the yarn-feeding means towards alixed position f and may be engageable by a striker that is movable with -V the spindlev rail during the retraction of the latter.

The invention is applicable ,not only to ring-twistin Y machines butV also'to cap-twisting machines.

spindle, a dead-spindle within and protruding from at least one end of the bore of the spindle, an extensible package-support comprising inner end outer members, of which the outer 'abuts the spindle and the inner is engaged by the plunger, a cap mounted upon the protruding end of the dead-spindle and having a depending skirt coaxially embracing the extensible package support, p

yarn-feeding means coaxial with the spindle and adapted to feed yarn over the skirt of thel cap to thepackage package support, means for retracting the spnidle axially away from thel yarn-feeding means and from the apex of the cap, means'operative during this retraction for movingrthe plungerV relatively to the spindle axially in the opposite direction so as to extend the inner member of the package-support beyond the outer member. plunger may be tubular, in which case the dead-spindle extends through ,the bore thereof.

u Thus the spindle may be rotatably mounted upon an i axially retractable spindle rail, and the plunger may be rotatably mounted upon a second axially retractable rail.

The dead-spindle may be mounted upon a stationary rail.

In order to achieve a satisfactory build-up of yarn upon the package-support an oscillating or reciprocating chasling motion maybe superimposed upon the retraction of the spindle and plunger.

The invention is also applicable :to twisting machines ,f in which the several spindles are individually/drivenby I separate electric motors. Thus, one form of textile twist-,"1

ing machine embodying the inventiony comprises a plu- The package support may be El rality of twisting units, of which each comprises yarnfeeding means, a hollow spindle adapted to receive coaxially at one of its ends the outer member of an extensible package support comprising nested coaxial inner and outer members, an axially movable plunger entering the bore of the hollow spindle and adapted to engage the inner member of the extensible package support, an electric motor having its rotor coaxial with and in rotary driving connection with the spindle, means for retracting the several hollow spindles axially away from the yarnfeeding means through a predetermined distance, means operative during this re` :action for retracting the plungers through a smaller distance axially away from the yarn-feeding means, so that the package supports are extended during the retraction of the spindles.

In a preferred construction, the plunger of each unit is fixed coaxially to the rotor of the electric motor and is slidably keyed to the hollow spindle, the stators of the electric motors being mounted upon a common rail that is movable towards and away from the yarn-feeding means. However, the hollow spindles may be fixed directly coaxially to the motor spindles, which latter are, in this case, hollow so that the plungers may pass through them.

Various embodiments of the present invention are diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a part side elevation and part section of a ring-twisting machine unit embodying the invention:

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views of the unit shown in Fig. l with the parts in positions successively assumed during the formation of a complete package of twisted yarn:

Fig. 4 is a part side elevation and part section of a slightly different form of ring-twisting machine unit embodying the invention:

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of one form of package support that is suitable for use in accordance with the invention:

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of one form of cap-spinning spindle unit according to the invention:

Fig. 7 is a part section of Fig. 6 to an enlarged scale, showing certain details not clearly shown in Fig. 6:

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 illustrate the telescopic cap spindle unit illustrated in Fig. 6 and one means for retracting the spindle and for moving the plunger in dilierent positions:

Fig. ll is a vertical section of one of the spindle units of a ring spinning machine embodying separate electric motors for driving the several spindles:

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of one of the spindle units of a cap spinning machine embodying separate electric motors for driving the several spindles; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing two cap-spinning spindle units with their individual driving motors and one form of mechanism for moving the rails upon which the spindles and their electric driving motors are mounted in order to build up the packages, this form of mechanism for moving the rails being generally applicable to the embodiments of the invention diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, in Fig. 4, in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and l0, and in Figs. ll and l2.

It will be appreciated that only those parts of the twisting machines that are germane to the invention are shown in the drawings, the remainder being of any usual or conventional nature.

In the particular construction of ring-spinning machine shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, a ring 1 is carried, as is usual in ring-spinning machines in a ring frame 2. that is axially reciprocable over a short distance from the position shown in full lines to that shown in broken lines `with respect to yarn-feeding means comprising feed-rollers 3 and 4 and a guide-eye 5. The ring frame 2 is carried on a rail 7 that slides on stationary guide pillars 6 and is reciprocated by a chain 113 passing over a guide pulley 1117 and connected to the machine motion by a chain rod 119.

A short hollow spindle 8 is journalled in a housing 9 carried by a rail l0. The rail 10 is movable in a direction away from the yarn-feeding means 3 and 4 from the position shown in Fig. 1, which it assumes at the corn-v mencement of the building of the package, to the position shown in Fig. 3 which it assumes at the completion of the building of a package. The rail 1li its thus moved by means that are conventional in ytwisting machines, but the distance through which it is so moved in the present invention is considerably greater than in comparable pn'or machines, or example about double. In the case shown the rail l0 is moved by a chain lili) coupled to chain rod 99 and secured to rail lil by screwed stud and lock nuts. The chain Mill passes over a guide pulley lill to connect to chain rod 99 and by this means imparts a veru tical lowering motion to rail l0 from the Ihorizontal motion of the chain rod 99.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, the hollow Spindle 8 has an upwardly projecting hollow spigot i8, a shoulder 20 being formed thereon. in the example shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a plunger 2l is rotatably supported in a bearing assembly 22 mounted upon a rail 23 that is movable towards and away from the yarn-feeding means 3 and d. The plunger 21 is rotated by a `tape 24 engaging a whorl 25 keyed to the plunger 21. The tape 24 is driven as is usual from a cylinder that is rotated by a main driving mechanism of the machine. The plunger 2l enters the bore of the hollow spindle 8, and imparts rotation thereto by engagement of a slot 26 with a grub screw 27. The end of the plunger 21 projects through the hollow spindle 8 and is equipped with guide collars 29, of which the lower has a collar or shoulder 45.

The rail 23 is biased upwardly against a xed stop 32 by any convenient means, such as a spring 3l bearing against a lug 30 secured to the rail. A striker (not shown), projecting from rail it) engages the lug Sil secured to rail 23 and carries the latter downwards through the last part of the retraction of the rail llt). In such an arrangement the chain rod 114 and chain 115 are unnecessary.

An extensive telescopic package support such as is shown in Fig. 5 is mounted upon the spindle 8. Referring now to Fig. 5, the package support comprises two telescopically nested tubes 36 and 37. The internal diameter of the inner tube 37 is such as to slide nicely over the guide collars 29 and such that the end of this tube abuts against the shoulder 45 of the guide collar 29 of the plunger 2l. The internal diameter at its lower end of the outer tube 36 is such that it tits snugly over the spigot 1S of the spindle 8 and abuts against the shoulder 20. A sleeve 38 may be ixed to one end of the inner tube 37, and a sleeve 39 may be provided internally at the opposite end of the tube 36, so that the tubes are adequately aligned with respect to one another. In this case the end of the sleeve 3S abuts against the shoulder 45 of the guide collar 29 of the plunger 21. If desired a bayonet or similar easily detachable connection may be provided between the outer tube 36 or sleeve 3S and the spigot l of the spindle 8, in order to transmit torque from the spindle to the extensible package support. simple socket connection as shown is usually suicient for this purpose, the axial alignment of the package support and spindle being maintained by the bearing of the inner tube 37 upon the guide collars 29.

In the operation, yarn to be twisted is fed through the guide eye 5 by the feed-rollers El and 4 and passes through the traveller, not shown, running on the ring ll and thence to the package support which is initially as shown in Fig. 1. The package support is rotated by the spindle 8, the traveller lagging slightly, so that convolutions of twisted yarn are laid upon the package support. The ring-frame 2 is reciprocated in the usual manner s o However, the friction inherent in a` that the successive convolutions are slightly spread axially to and fro along the package support. Meanwhile the spindle rail and spindle are progressively moved away from the yarn-feed means 3 and 4 from the position shown in Fig. 1 towards that shown in Fig. 2 by the action of the chain '100, so that twisted yarn is built up upon the outer tube 36 of the package support, as shown in Fig. 2. Meanwhile the rail 23 does not move, so that the plunger 21 also remains stationary in the axial direction and the package support is progressively extended while being retracted by projection of the inner tube 37 beyond the upper end of the outer tube 36. Indeed the distance of the upper end of the package support from the guide-eye 5 remains substantially constant, so that, although the package support is extended, such extension does not interfere in any way with or modify the balloon of yarn that is formed between the travellerY of the ring 1 and the guide-eye 5.

As the operation of the machine unit proceeds, the rail 23 is lowered against its bias by means of chain 115, or by a strike (not shown) projecting from the rail 10, which is controlled by the machine motion mechanism.

. The plunger 21 and the extended inner tube 37 of the package support are thus moved away from the guideeye 5 at the same speed as and together with the spindle 8 and outer tube 36 of the package support until the position shown in Fig. 3 is reached, at which position the build of yarn upon the extended package support is complete. The complete package is then removed and the unit is restored to the state shown in Fig. 1 for initiating the twisting and building of another package of yarn. It will be appreciated that the package so formed is substantially longer than, nearly double as long as, and of the same diameter as, a package that could be successfully built under the same conditions controlling the balloon of yarn formed between the guide-eye 5 and the ring 1 upon a non-extensible package support.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. ,4, the whorl 25 is keyed directly to the spindle 8, instead of to the plunger 21, and is journalled in a usual manner in a bearing housing `41, mounted upon the spindle rail 10. The

lower end of the plunger 2d is journalled in a bearing housing 4t) carried by a rail 23 similar and actuated similarly to that shown in IFig. 1. Rotation is imparted to the spindle 8 directly by the whorl 25 and thence to the plunger 21, instead of being imparted by the whorl directly to the plunger 2,1 and thence to the spindle 8.

rangements of Fig. 4 than in the case of the arrange-v ment of Fig. 1, but otherwise the operations of the two arrangements are similar. v

In the cap-spinning arrangement, illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 the hollow spindle 8 rests rotatably on a support 41 in a housing 9 0n a rail `10-Vand preferably has an upwardly projecting hollow spigot 18 so that an upwardly facing shoulder 20 is provided on the spindle 3. A screw-threaded cap 42 and washer 43 `hold the spindle 8 and support `41 in the housing 9.' A tubular plunger 21 extends slidably through the bore of the spindle 8, to which it is preferably keyed by a grub screw 27 engaging a slot 26, and is rotatably journalled upon a second rail 23. This second rail 23 is movable parallel to the axis of the spindle 8 and is moved, for example by a chain 115 connected to the machine motion through the rod ifi-4, or by the spring 31. Referring particularly to Fig. 7, the upper end of the plunger 2/1 preferably protrudes a substantial distance beyond the upper end of the spindleS, and the protruding end is preferably provided with guide collars 29 of overall diameter less than the overall diameter of the spigot 18 and with ashoulder 45 of slightly greater diameter, lbut nevertheless smaller thanv the overall diameter of the spigot 18, upon which shoulder 45 the lower end of the inner member 37 of the' package-support comprising-two'telescopically nested tubes 36 and 37 may abut. The outer tube 36 of the The axial traverse of the vwhorl 25 is greater in the artelescopic package-support abuts with its lower end against the peripheral shoulder 20 of the spindle 8.

A driving whorl 25 is keyed to the plunger 21 and isy driven by a tape 24 in a conventional manner from a revolving cylinder, not shown, but later referred to. If desired the whorl may be keyed directly to `the spindle 8.

A dead-spindle 46 is mounted upon a xed r-ail 47 and extends axially through the bore of the plunger 21,

self-lubricating bushes 48., preferably being interposed between the dead-spindle 46 and the plunger Z1. The

upper end of the dead-spindle 46 is tapered in the usual fashion, and a cap 49 having Aa depending skirt 50 embracing the spindle 8 coaxially is mounted upon the taper end of `the dead-spindle 46 in the usual manner.

Referring now particularly 'to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 .they spindle rail 10 may be retracted in a usual or conventional manner by means of a chain 100, the ends of which are fastened to a screwed shank that is secured to the rail 1li `by means of nuts. The chain 100 passes over a guide pulley 101 and is connected to a chain rod 99 which is attached to the machine motion and controlled by same. This motion is shown and explained more fully in reference to Fig. 13.

In the usual manner feed and drawing rollers 3, 4, 54, 55 and a feed-eye 5 constituting yarn feeding means, `are located above the dead-spindle 46 and cap 49, the feed-eye 5 being coaxial with the dead-spindle 46. The yarn is led from the feed-eye 5 around the rim 56 of the skirt 5t) of the cap 49 to the package-support which, as has been indicated, comprises two` coaxial telescopically nested tubes 36 and 3-7, the inner 37 of which abuts a shoulder onjthelower guide collar 48 of the plunger 21, and the outer 36 of which abuts its lower end against the ange 20 of the spindle 8. In the initial stage of spinning the spindle rail 10 is raised to its upmost position shown in Fig. 8, in whichy the rim 56 ofthe skirtv is level with the bottom of the fully contracted packagesupport 36, 37. As the spindle 8, plunger 2.1 and packagesupport 36, 37 are rotated, the spindle rail 10 is lowered or retracted until the package 57 of twisted yarn is approaching the end of the outer member 36 of the telescopic package support. Meanwhile the plunger Z1 and y inner member 37 of the package-supporty have not 'been retracted but have remained stationary. except for their rotation, so that the inner member y37 has been extended beyond the outer member 36.` As shown in Fig. 9, whenthe package 57 approaches the end of the outer member 36 of the package-support, the rail 23 is then car-V n ried downwardly by a movement imparted to chain 115 It will be appreciated-that the length of packagethat may be so built up ,approaches to double the internal axial length of the cap 49. v

Referring now to Fig. 11 of the drawings, each spindle unit of the machine here shown comprises a hollow spindle 8 journalled upon the usual spindle rail 10 of a ring type machine that has the conventional ring and traveller devices, not shown, associated with the several spindle units. The spindle 8 is formed with a hollow projecting spigot 18 so that ashoulder Ztl-is formed upon which the outer memberA 36 of anv extensible package support comprising a coaxial vtubular inner member 37 :and outer member 36 may rest, the spigot`18 entering the bore of the outer member 36. Any usual means are provided for retracting the spindle railV 10 away from feed rollers, not shown, that are as usual located overeach unit. One preferred form of suchv means will bev described with reference to Fig. 13. l

The stator 58 of a small electric motor 59 is mounted,l v

7 coaxially with the spindle of each unit on a movable rail 23 located below the spindle rail l() and movable towards and away from the feed-rollers. These stators are preferably mounted on the movable rail Z3 by means of coaxial spherical seatings 60 that may be resiliently supported by conventional resilient mountings 6i, so that alignment of the motor axis with the spindle axis is facilitated. "fue rotors 62 of the motors 59 are preferably carried in the stators 58 by single roller bearings 63 located at the lower ends of the stator casings. Plungers 2i, that may be tubular, are rigidly fixed. to roter shafts 64 of the motors, for example by means of male tapers n the plungers tting female tapers in the rotor The shafts, or as shown by collars 65 and screws ed. plungers 2i enter the hollow spindles 8, and keyed thereto by slots 26 and screws 27. s 2i have end portions which project through the spindles and are provided with collars 29 fitting the bores of the inner members 37 of the extensible package supports. The lowermost collars 29 are provided with flanges 45 upon which the inner members 37 of the package supports rest.

The motor rail 23 may be biased towards the feedrollers and towards the spindle rail 1Q, by gravity or by spring means, not shown, and may then be arranged to be retracted together with the spindle rail l@ after the latter has been retracted through a distance nearly equal to the length of the outer members of the package supports from its position nearest to the yarn-feeding means. For example, attachments fixed respectively to the spindle rail i@ and the movable rail 23 operated from machine motion shown in Fig. 13 may engage to cause retraction of the latter against its bias as previously described in reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

The usual rings and travellers may then be carried by another rail, not shown, which is reciproeated axially in `the usual manner, to secure proper build up of twisted yarn upon the package support.

In a cap-twisting machine, as shown in Fig. 12, the shafts 64 of the rotors 62 of the electric motors 59 and the plungers 2,1 are hollow, and dead spindles l5 mounted upon a xed rail 47 extend through the rotor shafts 64 and through the hollow plungers 21 to support the caps 49, self-lubricating bearings 48 preferably being provided between the dead spindles 46 and the hollow plungers 21. As is usual in cap-twisting, in order to secure proper build-up of the twisted yarn upon the package supports, a reciprocating motion towards and away from the feedrollers is preferably superimposed upon the retracting motion of the spindle rail 10. in order to eliminate the continued relative reciprocation of the plungcrs 2l and spindles 8, and of the members 36 and 37 of the extensible package support before extension has been completed, reciprocating motion is preferably also imparted to the motor rail 23 so that the plungers 2l and inner memhers 37 reciprocate with the spindles S and outer members 36 of the package supports. To this end the machine may incorporate the mechanism shown in Fig. 13.

Referring now to Fig. 13, an electric motor 67 drives a countershaft 68 through pulleys and belts 69 and through a speed-reducing gear box 7i). The countershaft 63 in turn drives a second countershaft 71 through sprockets and a chain '72 and through a clutch 73 that is engageable and disengageable at will. The countershaft 71 operates the rails 1t) and 23 at one side of the usual double-sided spinning machine. A `second clutch and countershaft, not shown, are provided for operating the rails itl and 23 of the other side of the machine. rEhe countershaft 71 drives a further countershaft 74, through a gear train 75. The countershaft '74 is coupled by a chain 76 to 'the driving shaft 77 of the driven front drawing roller 3 which constitutes part of the yarn feeding means. The shaft 77 is coupled through a gear train, shown generally at 78, to a shaft 79 which is coupled through a gear train, shown generally at 8i), to the driving shaft Si of the driven back roller 55. The front and back rollers are thus rotated to draw and to lead the yarn to the feed eyes 5.

The countershaft 74 is also coupled by appropriate sprockets and a chain 82 to a countershaft S3 which is in turn coupled by a gear-train Se to a shaft carrying a worm The worm 85 engages a worm wheel @o that rotates a heart-shaped cam 87 and a worm that engages a worm wheel 88 thu-s to drive the shaft 3@ through a gear train shown generally at 90. Particularly for a cap-spinning machine, it is desirable to provide a reciprocating chasing motion lo be imparted to both the rails it? and 23. To this end further driving mechanism may be employed, as will now be described.

The shaft 89 is splined to its driving gear wheel so that Tnay be axially reciprocated as well as rotated. A worm t is keyed to the shaft 89 and engages a worm wheel that is keyed to a chain sprocket 92, and to a 93. A chain @l is wound upon the chain sprocket @Z and passes over an idler sprocket and .around a sprocket 95, the end of this chain being fixed to a spring or a counterweight so that the chain is maintained in tension. A sprocket 97 is keyed to the sprocket 96 and engages a chain 33 that is secured to a rod 99 that extends throughout the length of the machine and is moved longitudinally by the chain A strap or chain 1h@ is attached to the rod 99 and passes an idler lill., its end being secured to the spindle rail l. Thus, when the motor @i7 is operative and when the clutch 73 is engaged, the sprockets 96 and 97 are slowly and continuously rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 13 to lower the spindle rail it?.

ln order to provide for the reciprocating chasing motion of the rail itl, a pivoted lever cto-operates with the heart-shaped cam 87 and is rocked by the latter as it rotates. The shaft carrying the chain sprocket 92 and cam 93 is mounted in a carriage M3 that is slidable upon the shaft 89 by a sleeve llibl and is located against rotation by a key 105. A lever is pivoted at 157 on a fixed bracket 108 and carries a roller 199, which is adjustable along its length. The roller 1.69 bears against the lever 102,. The lever 106 is connected to the carriage 103 by an articulation 110. Rotation of the heart-shaped cam 87 therefore imparts reciprocation to the carriage N3, translating the periphery of the worm wheel with which the worm 9i engages axially with respect to that worm, thus to impart to the worm wheel, and so to the sprocket 92 and cam 93 an oscillation that is superimposed upon the unilateral rotation due to rotation of the shaft 39. Accordingly the rail Sli) is not only lowered, so long as the motor 67 is running and the clutch 73 is engaged, but also has imparted to it an oscillatory motion to produce the desirable cross-wound build of the yarn.

Means may be provided not only `for lowering rail 23 during the latter part of the spinning operation while the inner members 37 of the package `supports are being lled but also for imparting to the rail 23 a reciprocating motion equivalent to that of the rail it? during the whole spinning operation. To this end, a lever 1li pivoted at i12 upon the carriage 103 has a roller E13 co-operating with the cam 93. This lever actuates a rod iid extending throughout the length of the machine and connected with the rail 23 by means of straps or chain 115. The cam 93 is so designed and and arranged that the lever 1111 is not rotated thereby until the rail i6 has been lowered to the point at which the package has been built up nearly to the top of the outer tube 36 of the package support, that is, in the case of Fig. 12, the upper end of the outer tube 36 of the package-support has nearly reached the level of the rim 56 of the cap 49. While the rail l@ is being so lowered, the rail 23 remains substantially stationary (apart from the reciprocation imparted to it due to the oscillatory movement imparted to the lever .til by reciprocation of the carriage 163), and the inner tube 37 of the package support is extended beyond the upper end of the outer tube 36 of the package support. Thereafter, the lever l1?. is rotated about its pivot M2 by cam 93 and agraciathe rail A23 `islowereci andoscillatedtogether with the nected to the output side of the manually adjustable frequency changer 116. The individual electric motors 59 incorporated in the spindle units may be three-phase induction motors having the windings of their stators 58 connected to the output side of the frequency changer 116, by adjustment of which the operating speed of the spindles may be changed at will. Any adjustment of the frequency changer will therefore alter the speed of the motor 67 and the speeds of the spindles in proportion.

The frequency changer 116 may be such as to change the -frequency from 50 cycles per second to various frequencies up to 150 cycles per second or more, so that the speeds l of the individual spindle motors 50 may be changed from '3,000 to 9,00() revolutions per minute or higher at will. Moreover each spindle motor 59 may be furnished with an individual brake, which may be of a mechanical type, but is preferably interlocked with the electrical supply to the spindle motor.Y

When both of the outer members 36 and inner members 37 of the package supports have been filled with yarn, the rails and 23 havingbeen lowered to the full extent, the machine is stopped, the filled package supports are manually doffed. YThe rails 10 and 23 are manually or automatically restored to their initial, upper positions, for example after ydisengagement of the clutch 73 of Fig. l3. Fresh contracted package supports are placed on the spindles and the machine is re-started for a further operation.

The machine motion described with reference to and shown in Fig. 13 is particularly applicable to cap twisting, but with modifications it may be readily made to suit ring-twisting applications as shown in Figs. l to 3.

It will be appreciated that certain specific manners of carrying out the invention have been described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying dra'wings by way of example only and that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A textile twisting machine unit comprising means for feeding textile yarn, a device for rotating the yarn so fed thereby in an orbit so as to form a balloon about the axis between said feeding means and said device, a rotating extensible package support coaxial with said orbit, means for moving said package supportV axially away from said yarn feeding means, and means operative during said movement of said package support for extending the package support in a direction opposite to that of the said movement.

2. A textile twisting machine unit comprising means for feeding textile yarn, means for carrying the yarn fed thereby in an orbit so as to form a balloon about an axis between said feeding means and said carrying means, a spindle mounted for rotation about and movement along the axis of said orbit, an extensible package support mounted coaxially on said spindle, means for rotating said spindle, means for retracting said spindle axially away from said yarn-feeding means, and means for extending said package support during said retraction.

3. A textile twisting machine unit comprising means,

rail "disposed on the side'of said spindle rail remote from said yarnfeeding means and movable towards and away from said yarn-feeding means, biasing means for biasing said second rail towards said yarn-feeding means, a stop for limiting the movement of said second rail under its bias towards said yarn-feeding means, abutment means associated -With Said spindle rail and said second rail and adapted to engage after said spindle rail has been retracted through a predetermined distance away from said yarn-feeding means, a plunger mounted for rotation upon said second rail coaxially with said hollow spindle and entering the-bore of said hollow spindle,`

an extensible package support comprising nested coaxial inner and outer members mounted with the outer mem-- ber abutting said spindle and the inner member being engaged by said plunger so as to be extended by relative axial movement of said hollow spindle and said plunger during retraction of said spindle rail through said predetermined distance.

4.'A cap-twisting machine comprising a spindle having an axial bore mounted for'rotation about and translation along its axis, a plunger axially movable withinV tating said spindle and with it said package support, means for retracting said spindle axially away from the yarnfeeding means and from the apex of said cap, means operative during this retraction of said spindle for moving said plunger relatively to said spindle axially in the opposite direction so as to extend the inner member of said package-support beyond said outer member.

5. A cap-twisting machine according to claim 4 and including separate means respectively for concurrently reciprocating and retracting said spindle and for concurrently reciprocating and retracting said plunger.

6. A textile twisting machine unit comprising yarnfeeding means, a hollow spindle, an extensible package support comprising nested coaxial inner and outer members, an axially movable plunger 'capable of entering the bore of said hollow spindle and adapted to engage the inner member of said extensible package support, an electric motor having its rotor coaxial with and in rotary driving connection with said spindle, means for retracting said hollow spindle away from said yarn-feeding means through a predetermined distance, said hollow spindle being capable of coaxially receiving at one kof its ends the outer member of said extensible package support, and means operative during this retraction for retracting said plunger through a smaller distance axially` away from said yarn-feeding means, so that said package support is extended during the retraction of said spindle.

7. A textile twisting machine unit according to claim 6, wherein said plunger is fixed coaxially to the rotor of said electric motor and is slidably keyed to said hollow spindle, the stator of said electric motor being mounted vupon a movably mounted rail that is movable towards and away from said yarn-feeding means.

8. A textile twisting machine unit according to claim 6 wherein said stator is mounted on said movable rail by means of coaxial spherical seatings.

9. A textile twisting machine unit ,comprising means for feeding textile yarn, a device for carrying the yarn fed thereby in an orbit so as to form a balloon about an axis between said feeding means and said device, a

. spindle mounted for rotation about and movement along the axis of said orbit, an extensible package support mounted coaxially on said spindle, means for retracting lli! Said spindle and package support axially away from said yarn feeding means, means for extending said package support during said retraction, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to said package support during said retraction and extension.

l0. A textile twisting machine unit comprising means for feeding textile yarn, a device for causing the yarn so fed thereby to rotate in an orbit so as to form a balloon about an axis between said feeding means and said device, a hollow spindle mounted for rotation coaxially with said axis, a plunger extending through said hollow spindle, an extensible package support comprising an inner member engaged by said plunger and an outer member abutting said spindle, means for rotating said plunger and said spindle, means for imparting to said spindle and said plunger an oscillatory motion along said axis, and means operative for retracting said spindle along said axis away from said yarn-feeding means through a predetermined distance and means for further retracting both said spindle and said plunger through a further predetermined distance so that said extensible package support is extended.

11. A textile twisting machine unit comprising means for feeding textile yarn, means for carrying the yarn fed thereby in an orbit so as to form a balloon coaxial with said orbit between said feeding means and said carrying means, a movably mounted spindle rail that is movable away from said feeding means, a hollow spindle rotatably mounted on said spindle rail, an axially movable plunger coaxial with and entering the bore of said hollow spindle, an extensible package support comprising nested coaxial inner and outer members mounted with said outer member abutting said spindle and said inner member being engaged by said plunger, means.

for retracting said spindle rail, said spindle and said outer member relatively to said plunger away from said yarn feeding means through a predetermnied distance, and means for further retracting said spindle rail, said spindle and said outer member together with said plunger and said inner member through a further predetermined distance.

l2. In a textile twisting machine unit of the kind in References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,969,685 Bird Aug. 7, 1934 1,976,332, Curtis Oct. 9, 1934 2,020,873 Bowen NOV. 12, 1935 2,216,377 Sorensen Oct. 1, 1940 2,421,908 Preysch June 10, 1947 2,474,210 Abbott Tune 28, 1949 2,530,146 Barker Nov. 14, 1950 2,571,267 Ljunggren Get. 16, 19514 2,572,135 Gonzalves Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 243,404 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1925 

